(a) EMS Providers seeking designation to provide specialty
care transports shall submit an application for program approval to the OEMS at
least 60 days prior to field implementation. The application shall document
that the program has:

(1) a defined service area that identifies the
specific transferring and receiving facilities the program is intended to
service;

(2) written policies and procedures implemented
for medical oversight meeting the requirements of Section .0400 of this
Subchapter;

(3) Service available on a 24 hour a day, seven
days a week basis;

(4) the capability to provide the patient care
skills and procedures as specified in "North Carolina College of Emergency
Physicians: Standards for Medical Oversight and Data Collection;"

(5) a written continuing education program for
EMS personnel, under the direction of the Specialty Care Transport Program
Continuing Education Coordinator, developed and modified based upon feedback
from program data, review and evaluation of patient outcomes, and quality
management review that follows the criteria set forth in Rule .0501 of this
Subchapter;

(6) a communication system that provides two-way
voice communications for transmission of patient information to medical crew
members anywhere in the service area of the program. The SCTP Medical Director
shall verify that the communications system is satisfactory for on-line medical
direction;

(7) medical crew members that have completed
training conducted every six months regarding:

(A) operation of the EMS communications system used in
the program; and

(B) the medical and patient safety equipment specific to
the program;

(8) written operational protocols for the
management of equipment, supplies, and medications. These protocols shall include:

(A) a listing of all standard medical equipment,
supplies, and medications, approved by the Medical Director as sufficient to
manage the anticipated number and severity of injury or illness of the
patients, for all vehicles used in the program based on the treatment protocols
and approved by the OEMS; and

(B) a methodology to ensure that each ground vehicle and
aircraft contains the required equipment, supplies, and medications on each
response; and

(9) written policies and procedures specifying
how EMS Systems will dispatch and utilize the ground ambulances and aircraft
operated by the program.

(b) When transporting patients, staffing for the ground
ambulance and aircraft used in the SCTP shall be approved by the SCTP Medical
Director as medical crew members, using any of the following as determined by
the transferring physician who is responsible for the medical aspects of the
mission to manage the anticipated severity of injury or illness of the patient:

(1) paramedic;

(2) nurse practitioner;

(3) physician;

(4) physician assistant;

(5) registered nurse; or

(6) respiratory therapist.

(c) SCTP as defined in Rule .0102(47) of this Subchapter
are exempt from the staffing requirements defined in G.S. 131E-158(a).

(d) SCTP approval is valid for a period to coincide with
the EMS Provider License that is issued by OEMS and is valid for six years.
Programs shall apply to the OEMS for reapproval.